When it comes to Cole Palmer a montage of magical moments spring to Brian Barry‑Murphy’s mind, but one episode, a little more than four years ago, particularly sticks. Barry-Murphy was in charge of Manchester City’s under-21s on the evening when Palmer – fresh from replacing Bernardo Silva as an 89th-minute substitute in a 2-0 Premier League win against Burnley – strolled across the bridge at the Etihad Campus and reported for duty at the academy stadium, scoring a sensational hat-trick in a 5‑0 victory against Leicester.
It is a story Barry-Murphy –now in charge of the League One leaders, Cardiff – recounts although Palmer will not be in the opposition team when Chelsea visit in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday.
